Walking the talk: UPM Raflatac announces a footprint milestone on its journey beyond fossils

UPM Raflatac’s ambition is to be the first label materials company beyond fossils. The company takes climate action by increasing the use of certified papers and the traceability of other biobased materials, by fostering a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and by developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of sustainably minded brands and companies.

UPM Raflatac’s RAFNXT+ product range is a prime example of the company’s determined efforts to provide products that help customers reduce the carbon footprint of their labels. In 2019, it became the world’s first label material verified by the Carbon Trust, a global climate change and sustainability consultancy. In 2022, Raflatac customers avoided and reduced label material carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons of CO2e (CO2 equivalent) simply by selecting RAFNXT+ labels instead of standard label materials. According to EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this equals over 1,100 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.

“As the latest IPCC report shows, the current pace and scale of climate action is insufficient. We all need to take climate action both today and in the future. RAFNXT+ is a readily available label material solution for brands and customers that want to take a step towards lower emissions today. We must increase momentum and make smart choices in packaging that deliver a low-carbon future,” says Satu Leppänen, Sustainability Manager at UPM Raflatac.

The RAFNXT+ product range has on average an 11% lower carbon footprint compared to standard label materials. Its superior carbon performance has been calculated using UPM Raflatac’s life cycle assessment (LCA) service known as Label Life by UPM Raflatac. LCA is an internationally accepted standardized method for analyzing the environmental impacts of products. The cradle-to-gate calculation of the RAFNXT+ carbon footprints has been verified by the Carbon Trust according to the PAS 2050 standard.

Through smarter use and choice of paper raw materials originating from sustainably managed forests, recycled materials, and other controlled sources, RAFNXT+ range also supports the capacity of forests to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

UPM Raflatac is determined to take concrete steps to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its operations and continue developing leading solutions for its customers. At the end of the day, sustainability is a joint effort. The company partners with multiple organizations and global experts that share its vision of a sustainable, low-carbon future beyond fossils.